CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The #3 Lady Tigers hosted the Cumberland University Phoenix on Thursday night, continuing conference play. Campbellsville's nearly-perfect free-throw shooting and defensive pressure earned them the victory, 79-56.
The Phoenix were first on the scoreboard with a three-point bucket in the opening minute of the game. Cumberland got ahead with a layup, however, the Lady Tigers retaliated from the charity stripe. It wasn't until over three minutes into the period that the Lady Tigers converted their first field goal attempt, going 0-5 before that. With a three-pointer of her own, Bree Gowdy tied the score. Lauren Lee claimed the lead for Campbellsville with a jumper assisted by Hallie Allen. Dea Bradley remained a strong force for the Lady Tigers off the bench, scoring multiple baskets to propel Campbellsville further ahead. At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Tigers led, 18-13.
Much like the first, the Phoenix opened the second quarter with a jumper. Tyra Flowers struck back in the paint, counteracting their efforts to catch up. Paige Serafini collected her first assist of the game, aiding Gowdy in scoring her second three-point bucket. Talynne Shearer's offensive rebounds resulted in basket after basket for the Lady Tigers to claw their way up to a ten-point advantage. Campbellsville kept a heavy rotation on the court compared to Cumberland, with fast plays and avid control over the ball. At the half, the Lady Tigers remained ahead, 37-24.
Serafini opened the second half with avid shots from beyond the arc. As the next few minutes of the quarter unfolded, Campbellsville was unable to connect. Although the Phoenix capitalized off the Lady Tigers' scoring halt, it was not enough to reach Campbellsville's advantage. Allen scored in the paint, extending the Lady Tigers' lead to 17 points over Cumberland. The Phoenix racked up a couple of buckets to decrease their deficit on the scoreboard, but at the end of the third quarter, Campbellsville still led, 56-42.
Maddie Nalley came off the bench with a jumper to open the final quarter. Bradley followed with her second three-pointer of the match, followed by Allen's first. The Lady Tigers' defense only strengthened halfway through the fourth quarter, preventing the Phoenix from scoring, hindering any comeback efforts. As the closing seconds of the match approached, Flowers and Allen's layups, Bradley's three-pointers, and the Lady Tigers' several opportunities at the free-throw line brought Campbellsville their largest lead of the contest, with 27 points over Cumberland. The Lady Tigers took the victory, 79-56.
The Lady Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, January 18th, hosting the Miami University Middletown Thunderhawks beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
- Three Lady Tigers reached double digits throughout tonight's game: Lee and Bradley with 15 points each and Allen with 11. Additionally, Flowers led with nine rebounds and four steals, and Hay and Lee with five assists each.
- Campbellsville outperformed Cumberland in multiple statistical aspects of the match: assists (23-19), bench points (35-13), fast break points (22-10), steals (14-8), and points off turnovers (25-17).
- Throughout tonight's game, Lee collected her 1400th career point, becoming the 21st Lady Tigers to reach this achievement.
- Campbellsville's history against Cumberland stretches back to 1979, holding 77 wins and 16 losses; today's game extends the Lady Tigers' winning streak to 24 victories against the Phoenix. Campbellsville has not lost a game against Cumberland since 2013.
